SUBJECT - CHURCH HISTORY // UNIT - 1 // LESSON - 2 // DEFINITION OF CHURCH //

 LESSON - 2

Definition of Church

The general layman’s concept of church is that, it is a building used for the purposes of Christian religious activities or worship. This definition of church as a separate building specifically designated for worship would have been foreign to the early believers as they never had such but met in homes of members (Acts 1:13; 2:46 12:12; Rom. 16:5 1Cor.16:19; Col. 4:15; Phil. 2). Others see it as an organization of local assemblies like the Assemblies of God’s Church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Roman Catholic Church or the Methodist Church.

The concept “church” has elusive meaning as that of history. The word church as already noted, sometimes used to designate a building consecrated for Christian religious services or as often used to refer to a local church or denomination could be misleading. However, the biblical perspective of church is from the Greek word ‘Ecclesia’ that means the called-out ones or an assembly of people. Thus, the word church refers to people rather than a building (Acts 19:30-41, 7: 38). When a building was mentioned in the New Testament, it was in relation to the people (the church) that met there for fellowship or worship. (Rom 16:5; 1Cor.16:19, Col. 4:15, Phil. 2). It was much later, when Christianity was legitimatized and had gained much affluence in Roman Empire, particularly, after the conversion of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century that the word church came to mean the building where the people met. Our contemporary time has further imported other meanings into the concept of church, so that the word church is now used to refer to particular denomination. The truth is that the word church as already stated actually means a group of believers.

More appropriately, the “church” is a Greek word “ekklesia”. It is derived from the compound verbs “ekkeleo” that is the compound words “ek” meaning “out” and “kaleo” meaning to call or summon. Thus, the literal meaning of church is to “call out”. This New Testament word “Ekklesia” etymologically, according to Willington’s has a loose connection with the Hebrew word “qahal” which is translated congregation, assembly or company. Qahal, invariably means those assemblies gathered together for a purpose (i.e. for religious worship of God as in 2Chron.20:5; or for Civic affairs as in 1Kings 12:3 and Prov.5:14 or for war as in Num.22:4; Judge 20:2). The New Testament use of the word “ekklesia” is technical. Theologically, it is used as a designation for the people of God that is an assembly of people called out by God. These are people called out of the world and life of sin by Christ unto salvation and inheritance of Christ’s kingdom (Mt.11:28-30; Acts 26:16-18). Pre-eminently, it describes the totality of those who subscribe to the teaching of Jesus Christ. The church therefore, is an assembly of saints and true believers arising from the acceptance and faith in the preaching of the gospel of salvation in Christ and the consequent administration of His sacraments: especially, water baptism and the Lords Supper. It should be rightly pointed out that the church is not a mere formal structure or an organization with administrative and other external features. Rather, the church is an organism that consists of those in whom Christ is actively alive, as members (body of Christ), with Christ as the Head. Scripturally, the church is designated as the body of Christ, the pillar of truth, the temple of God, the communion of saints, and many others.

Although, we have said that the church is not essentially an organization but its visible existence however, has forms of organization and structures. The word church could therefore mean a local assembly or group of believers in a particular place or a body of individual living believers who profess faith in and allegiance to Christ. It is also the universal group of believers in all ages including the dead and the living (Mt 16 18, 5:23-27). The universal church comprises of every believer from all ages, from every nation, and kindred from the time of Pentecost to Christ’s return. The universal church is not denominational. Even though, certain denominations may have and do teach the word of God with more accurate and better enlightenment than others. The universal church transcends denominational concept irrespective of the size of the denomination and its orthodoxy. The church is God’s congregation. The church is not Jew or Gentiles. It is not a physical building. It is not a business organization. To capture the significance and the true nature of the church, the New Testament writers used certain metaphorical descriptions including: the People of God; the Kingdom of God; the Temple of God; the Bride of Christ; and the Body of Christ.

Meaning of Church History

Already we have considered the meaning(s) of “history” and “church” separately. From our explanations and definitions of history and church so far, one would readily agree with Mayer’s definition of church history as the “story of those who have been followers of Jesus of Nazareth” during the past more than two thousand years4. This includes the interpretation of records and facts based on organized information gathered from written materials as well as non- material sources. A further insight to church history is given by Schaff in his book the “History of the church”. According to him, the history of the church is the rise and progress of the kingdom of heaven upon earth for the glory of God and the salvation of mankind. He is of the view that the introductory part of the church began with the creation of Adam and the promise of the serpent’s head bruiser which meant the regain of paradise that is the hope of future redemption from the curse of sin.

Since history deals with structures and processes, church history must deal with the various churches or denominations within Christendom. It must tell how they arose and how they influenced each other. It is also within the scope of church history to highlight the distinctive features of the various denominations that distinguish them from each other. These features are often doctrinal or ideological conflicts and cooperation that characterise their stories. It is also within the premise of church history to note other structures that have exerted influence on the church or that have influenced it; it considers also, the influence of the church on structures and institutions in the society for example, politics, economy, education, morals and culture. In summary, church history is the story of the people of God, taking into account their success and failures, their sorrows and joys, their sufferings and triumphs, their fellowship and frustrations, their understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit in their midst and their general response to Christ’s message from the point of view of the dedicated, ordinary Christian and other heroes with a look into the future (Parousia).

From the above, the definition of church history could be summed as the retelling and interpretation of the past story of the followers of Christ in a sustainable way. In otherwords, Church history has to do with the description or a story of the church (body believers) including their doctrine, growth, development, persecutions in all ages. It tends to spell the socio-political, economic, and cultural factors that have contributed in one way or the other to foster or frustrate the church at one time or the other. Church history also seeks to identify individuals and or groups (including para-church organisations, denominations), that have played significant roles in the spread of Christianity or in the planting of churches. Thus, church history aims at defining and describing the significant milestones in the progress of the church in all ages from the birth of the church to date.

However, within the compass of a short outline of history, not all churches in all countries in all ages or in all periods of more than two millennia could be captured. For the purpose of this book on “Early Church History” the content will be restricted to the first few centuries of the church age. Emphasis will be laid on the unique features and contributions of the church including individuals and denominations within this period. Since all the churches at different times, in their different shapes and forms could be said to have passed through the fire and storms of persecution, the history of the church will not be complete without a look at the causes, successions and effects of persecution on the church within the period.

In conclusion, we firmly hold Achunike’s thesis that church history is better done by Christians and that any church historian must first and foremost be a man or woman of faith to be able to see the meaning of church history in his or her responsible decision.